Kopia is one solution for backing up multiple devices and restoring snapshots should issues arise that render a specific client inoperable. It's a solid choice for the home lab, but why would I recommend Kopia over other backup solutions? It all comes down to a few reasons, one of which is the incredible performance.

6 It's FOSS

Free and open-source

One important consideration for my self-hosted empire is free availability and an open-source ethos. I want to be able to look at the code that runs on my hardware and ensure everything is up to scratch, or rely on those far more technically attuned than I to do so with the heavier stuff — I always recommended sparing a few coins here and there for free software you utilize. This is precisely where Kopia excels. It's free and open-source.

The team behind Kopia (led by the incredibly talented Jarek Kowalski)doesn't even accept donations, instead preferring word-of-mouth marketing, contributions, and bug reporting. Now that's dedication to keeping your backups safe and ready to go should the worst happen. That's not to suggest commercial software won't be as good as something such as Kopia, but do you want to fork out the big bucks for backing up data and rely on a company to continue supporting it?

5 Great for on and offshore backups

Keep everything safe from data loss

Configuring your devices to back up to a centralized hub can prove challenging, especially when first starting and using other methods that may not be as user-friendly as Kopia. The installation process is straightforward thanks to a Docker container, and using the software is a breeze with the available CLI or web GUI. Depending on how you prefer to handle backing up hardware on the network, you can switch between them or even delegate tasks to others.

Creating onshore backups is vital to keep all your data safe. I'm not just talking about hardware failure, but should you use a NAS there's also the risk of encountering ransomware, should malicious parties be able to penetrate your security (or lack thereof). Having a backup at hand for any unforeseen circumstances can relieve headaches, prevent you from losing money, and save a lot of time. That's what makes Kopia so useful. It's easy, free, and quick to create backups wherever you need them.

4 Supports repository mounting

Copy and paste backed-up data

But what happens when you wish to apply some of the backed-up data within a snapshot and not the whole thing? Kopia even allows you to mount specific repositories. Need a single file from a backup? Mount it in your chosen file manager, as you would an external or network drive, and simply copy and paste the data you need. It's that simple and makes moving specific data from backed-up content a breeze. It's also handy for allowing others to access backed-up content without knowing terminal commands.

3 Easy to install and use

Web GUI and quick access

Kopia is very easy to install, run, and configure. Snapshots are taken, adhering to the currently set policy, and are stored in repositories. A repository can be a cloud storage service or some drive on your network, depending on how you wish to set up your backups. There are two versions of Kopia available, one that runs through the CLI and another using a GUI. I recommend using the GUI if you're unfamiliar with the terminal or don't feel comfortable working out commands

This makes Kopia a good choice for a home with both technically savvy individuals and those who prefer to see everything on-screen with a user-friendly UX.

2 Strong integration

Pick your favorite provider

A question one must answer for backups is where to store them. You should always keep at least one copy on-site and nearby for easy and convenient access to your saved data should something go wrong. Cloud storage services such as OneDrive and Google Drive can prove useful, but have their limits when it comes to storing a lot of data. You'll struggle to find plans with more than a few terabytes of capacity without spending a small fortune.

Kopia integrates with various popular storage services, including Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, and Google Cloud, as well as some services supported by Rclone. You could also create your own Kopia repository server, which can prove useful in a home lab environment with plenty of storage space and computing time to spare.

1 It's seriously quick

For backing up and restoring

One overlooked feature of backup software is performance and speed. You probably didn't mind how long it took your commercial backup software to save your Windows installation to an external drive overnight, but when you've got multiple devices on the network each needing backing up regularly, performance becomes more important as you attempt to limit system resources being dedicated to saving data. Kopia is fast, efficient, and lightweight.

No backup solution is fail-proof

You should always keep multiple copies of your data. Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule and have three copies of your data, stored on two separate mediums, one being located off-site. Cloud storage can count as off-site, and so can external storage. Kopia can integrate with external services and transfer data, but I recommend making your copies to move off-site.